SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW WITH CHRIS MAIER, OUR ACADEMY TEACHER FOR CAPOEIRA, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, MINDSET AND LEADERSHIP
About you lately
Lately, my life has been a dance between being a husband & father as well as my profession in developing team cultures and the understanding of leadership. I’ve been building bridges between Capoeira and leadership coaching — showing that the same rhythm, presence, and adaptability that make a great Capoeirista also make a great leader. And as of late, I am bringing these things together to prepare a book on the topic as well as prepare for a few speaking engagements.
What is your most creative moment you have had
If we speak about it literally creation, then it is the ongoing process of raising kids. This is my biggest challenge to date, and I enjoy every minute of it. Apart from that, one of my most creative moments was when I realized that Capoeira could be taught not only as a martial art, but as a leadership method. Turning centuries of cultural resilience into tools for modern executives was like seeing two worlds collide and form something new. One has to know that capoeira itself is a very creative art form, as it constantly reinvents itself and the people within do the same: we sing and improvise lyrics, movements and dialogue, challenge ourselves and others physically, musically, verbally, all in a playful way. What a way to live life .
Do you have some tips to be always doing new things
Yes: stay playful. Adults forget that play is a strategy, not just entertainment. It breeds culture. Try one thing each week that feels slightly uncomfortable — whether it’s improvising, taking a new route home, or asking a surprising question in a meeting. Creativity thrives where comfort
Are you using some innovation tools or collaboration tools at your work?
I do — but I prefer to treat people, not platforms, as the real innovation tool. That said, I have used digital canvases, Miro boards, and shared creative spaces among other things. But the real innovation comes when people feel safe to open up, improvise, like in a Capoeira roda. I therefore am a big fan of an actual physical and playful body practice, which I use in my workshops to help people find into the state of play.
How do you find your motivation
Motivation finds me when I remember why I do this: to help people lead without losing themselves. On the hardest days, I remind myself of the faces of my students – from grassroots capoeira communities to the Thai royal palace — and the trust they placed in me. That fuels me forward.
Your toolkit for keeping up with the Capoeira community
My toolkit is a mix of practice, presence, and people. I keep training my body, both within the framework of capoeira and outside of it, both in self practice and in a collective setting such as on workshops, etc. Capoeira in that way is a very unique thing, as our sense of community is strong and our community itself stretches all over the world: no matter where you are, capoeira and its community will welcome you.
I am talking to my capoeira master on a near daily basis, touching base sometimes just to see how the family is, at other times we discuss future events or current happenings. All very informal, but super important to me personally. I am always trying to keep up not only with a practice, but also with producing inside of the context of capoeira: writing music, bringing back old songs or doing research.
I keep singing to stay connected to the culture, and I stay close to the roda — whether live or online. Capoeira and its culture for me is not just something you “follow,” it’s something you cultivate and it’ll grow, sometimes beyond your own imagination.
Your morning routine
I aim to begin my mornings begin with soft movement and silence. Whenever I can, I make room for some kind of routine practice, usually combined with a conscious silence. That could be working out, or simply catching a few minutes of sun outside. However and in all honesty, this isn’t always possible. It’s something I see a lot in my clients and students: if we overcomplicate things or put up big expectations, things have a tendency to not go our way. So I frame these routines as something with a very small barrier of entry and however small the commitment I fulfill, I consider it a win.
I then prepare my kids for school, then take 10 minutes for breathwork or stretching. It’s not about having a “perfect” morning routine, it’s about creating a state of presence and preparation for the day. Not to create an expectation, that would be counterproductive. It’s more about a small moment of clarity and readiness, it helps me set the rhythm for my entire day.
ABOUT CHRIS MAIER
He is known in the Capoeira world as Vaqueiro – is a leadership coach, movement educator, and cultural translator with over 25 years of experience. He has worked with executives, creatives, and educators across continents, including eight years as a mentor and educational advisor in the Thai royal court. His background blends Afro-Brazilian movement culture (Capoeira), neuroscience, and positive psychology to foster embodied, value-driven leadership.
As founder of the ComPa55o methodology, Chris helps leaders shift from ego-driven control to collective intelligence rooted in cultural wisdom. He believes leadership does not come via title, but a rhythm — and that those who learn to move with clarity, purpose, and presence can transform both themselves and their organizations.
His work is rooted in the belief that ancient wisdom and modern complexity are not opposites but partners. Through principles distilled from Capoeira and its philosophy, and the metaphor of the roda, Chris teaches how to build regenerative teams that think, act, and grow together.
CHRIS MAIER TEACHING MASTERCLASSES IN THE COLLABWITH ACADEMY
MASTERCLASS Capoeira for founders, from individual to collective leadership infinite game with Chris Maier
29th August, 12noon CET
This masterclass invites founders and entrepreneurial leaders on a journey from self-leadership to culture-building through the lens of Capoeira, Ubuntu, and infinite game thinking. Grounded in Afro-Brazilian wisdom, modern psychology, and years of real-world leadership experience — from grassroots to the royal court – you’ll discover a new paradigm of embodied, dynamic, and collective leadership.
MASTERCLASS Capoeira for researchers, to manage stress and get things done in a multi hierarchy environment with Chris Maier
5th September, 12noon CET
In research environments — especially those with layered hierarchies and complex power dynamics — stress can become constant, and productivity can suffer. This masterclass draws from Capoeira’s unique blend of movement, rhythm, and strategic play to help researchers manage stress, navigate multi-level hierarchies, and remain effective without burning out.
MASTERCLASS The Circle of Mentoring: Capoeira Principles for Ongoing Growth in Innovation Communities with Chris Maier
19th September, 12noon CET
In most organizations, mentoring is treated like a one-off onboarding gift — something you get when you’re new, then lose once you “should” know your way around. But real innovation happens when mentoring is constant, mutual, and woven into daily culture.
Drawing from Afro-Brazilian Capoeira, a cultural practice born in resistance, adaptability, and creative community-building, this masterclass introduces four principles that can transform your team into an ongoing mentoring network: Ginga, Ancestralidade, Quilombo, Convivência.
Check our Collabwith Academy calendar
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